Production research is a high priority within the National Sunflower Association. Research priorities are developed by the NSA Research Committee, and U.S. researchers are invited to submit proposals. The proposals are rated by the committee, and the NSA Board of Directors then makes the final funding decisions.

The NSA is also constantly on the lookout for matching grants to stretch the research budget. In addition, about $400,000 from the National Sclerotinia Initiative helps fund long-term work on that particular disease in sunflower.

• Evaluation of Fungicide Efficacy & Development of Timing Strategy for Control of Sunflower Rust; Sam Markell, North Dakota State University, with collaborators at varioius NDSU sites and at the University of Nebraska; $22,828 (This project is funded by the North Dakota Harmonization Board.)

• Development of Management Strategies to Control Sunflower Rust Using Genetic Resistance & Fungicides; Sam Markell, NDSU, and USDA-ARS-Fargo collaborators; $23,588 (Of this total, $13,629 is with North Dakota SBARE funding, and the other $9,959 is from the NSA.)

• Development of Resistance to Stem & Seed Insect Pests of Sunflower in the Central Plains; Larry Charlet, USDA-ARS-Fargo, and NDSU and KSU collaborators; $55,000

• Determination of the Biology, Impact, Economic Threshold & Pest Management Strategies for the Sunflower Seed Maggot in the Northern Plains; Janet Knodel, NDSU, and USDA-ARS-Fargo and NDSU research station collaborators; $74,000 (Of that total, $28,000 is from the NSA, $40,000 from the North Dakota Harmonization Board and $6,000 from chemical companies.)